Call of Duty 3

"One of the best WWIII shooters ever made"

Call of Duty 3 may just be the best WWII shooter to ever grace a console. Some of you may be sick of the genre, but to those who are not, Call of Duty 3 is a major improvement over its predecessor, which was already a great game.

Right off the bat you'll notice that this game has a very good presentation. The graphics make war-torn cities seem real. Debris, smoke and flames litter the large levels. The levels don't look pretty, they look completely wrecked, in the best way possible. It really gives you a sense of devastation. Another great part of the graphics are the guns. They all look real and very deadly.

But even better the graphics is the sound. This game has a soundtrack that rivals big-budget movies in quality. Waiting for a game to start while in a multiplayer lobby is actually fun thanks to the triumphant tunes that Jerry Goldsmith (Star Trek: First Contact) has composed. It may just be one of the best orchestrated video games soundtracks of all time. Adding to the great music are the realistic gunshots and voice acting that doesn't make you want to cringe.

Presentation: 9

Presentation aside, the Call of Duty series has always been known for its intense gameplay, and Call of Duty 3 is no different. The battles in this game can be quite more intense then those of the last game. Even in the first mission, you will be thrust into battles that are much larger then those of the second game. Like Call of Duty 2, you will be a member of many different armies. Unlike the last one though, you are all working toward a common objective. This really gives you the sense of how hard it was to take back France from the Germans. There are many in-army relationships, such as a cowardly radio controller and a harsh sergeant. These stories are nice, but don't really factor into the gameplay.

The game plays practically the same as its predecessor, with a few minor tweaks. The controls are the same, so veterans won't have any problems adapting. Probably the most prevalent change is the ability to return enemy grenades. You can also “cook” your grenade by waiting to throw it. By timing it right, the grenade should be able to kill your enemies as soon as it gets to them. The other change is close quarter combat, which is basically just button mashing, and only comes up a few times. You now have to do a minigame to set charges, too.

The single player certainly offers a memorable experience, but the multiplayer is certainly the best part. The game supports up to 24 players, leagues ahead of the 8 offered by Call of Duty 2. The maps are very well made, and the modes are certainly fun to play, You get your average deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture the flag modes, but you also get different (and quite fun) modes like War (objective based) and single flag capture the flag. The game is quite popular (at least over Xbox Live) and should keep you occupied for a long time.

Gameplay: 8.5
Multiplayer: 9

With a great single player campaign and better multiplayer, Call of Duty 3 is without a doubt the best World War II of this generation so far, and perhaps of all time. If you are a fan of the genre, or even first person shooters in general, you owe this game at least a rental.

Presentation: 9
Gameplay: 8.5
Multiplayer: 9
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FINAL: 9 (Not an average)

-LedZeppelin19

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/28/07